Adjustable slat blind



Aug. 28, 1962 A. ALVAREZ ADJUSTABLE sLAT BLIND 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1960 INVENTOR @Fa/V5@ ,4,4 .W7/ai BY (g: ATTORNEYS Aug' 28, 1962 v A. ALVAREZ 3,051,231

ADJUSTABLE SLAT BLIND Filed Sept. 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/l l//IT INV EN TOR @F0/v50 f 14a/@Ez ATTORNEYS A. ALVAREZ ADJUSTABLE SLAT BLIND Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,231

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1960 F/.3 0W ff f'.

INVENTOR ,4J/@M90 /QcV/efz BY mm ATTCRNEY- 3,051,231 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,231 ADJUSTABLE SLAT BLIND Alfonso Alvarez, 204 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ.

Filed Sept. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 58,014 4 Claims. (Cl. 160-34) This invention relates to a blind, and more particularly a blind having adjustable slats of that type wherein the slats may be selectively juxtaposed or spaced or alternatively removed entirely from a position in front of a Window and constitutes an improvement over my Patent No. 2,921,628 dated January 19, 1960.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved adjustable slat blind construction which is adapted to be stored, when not in use, by housing the slats in a spandrel panel located immediately above the window, as is conventionally used in modern building construction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fblind of this character wherein the individual slats are of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration and provided with external shoulders whereby the individual slats may be nested either in inverted position for storage or in upright position for covering a window or the like in substantially light proof position when in use.

A further object of Ithe invention is the provision of a blind characterized by flexible means connecting adjacent slats so that they may be spaced apart to admit a limited amount of light through the window opening, and which may be moved upwardly into the space interiorly of the adjacent upper spandrel in spaced relation, and by inversion stored in relatively compact nested relation in a relatively small space.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved means for moving the slats of the blind into and out of operative position.

Still other objects in the invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawings.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be made apparent hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevational View of a fragment of a building showing -a window with the blind of the instant invention in position thereon, and showing the adjacent upper spandrel construction adapted for the housing of blind slats when not in use.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional View partially broken away taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIG. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4 4 of FIG. 3 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side sectional view similar to FIG. 2 showing a constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at 10 a building construction which includes a window 11 and a window frame 12, the space above the window frame being occupied by a hollow panel 13, commonly termed a spandrel which is conventionally used in the multi-paneled, multi-windowed present day type of building construction, and extends between the top of the window, adjacent the ceiling C and upwardly to the bottom of the next adjacent window above the floor F.

The blind of the instant invention is generally indicated at 14, and is comprised of a plurality of slats 15, each slat Ibeing of substantially U-shaped construction and comprising a pair of spaced legs 16 and Ia bight portion 17, the bight being cut away exteriorly to form a pair of shoulders 18. The adjacent slats are connected by a plurality of `ball type chains 19, which are suitably secured in bores or the like extending through the bights of the slat members.

A pair of oppositely disposed guide channels 20 are positioned on the window frame 12 on opposite sides and exteriorly of the window sash 22, Iand serve as front guides for the slats which are adapted to move horizontally therein, the slats extending in transverse parallel relation to the guide channels 20. Interiorly of the window frame there is provided a bushing 23, which is positioned above the sill 24, land which carries a threaded rod 2'5, the rod being rotated by means of a suitable conventional sprocket contained in a housing 27, the sprocket in turn being rotated by means of a Worm which is operabfle by means of an external handle 29. Opposite Worms are connected for synchronous movement by a transverse rod 26.

'I'he rod 25 carries yan operating lever 30, which is provided at one end with a hook 31, which engages under the lowermost sl-at 15a, and extends adjacent the side of the guide channel 20. Rota-tion of the rod 25 will obviously cause raising and lowering of the member 30 to lift the adjacent slat and telesoopically by engagement with the next adjacent slat successively to |lift all of the slats out of relation with the open face of a window.

The spandrel 13 is provided with a hollow interior 35, which has mounted thereacross a transverse axle 36, which carries a gear 37 and a roller 38. The roller 38 serves as an upper axle over which the shade assembly including the slats 15 and their associated chains 19 are progressively fed, the arrangement thus being such that the upper and lower slats may be raised simultaneously by telescopic action as slat 15a moves upwardly. Guide channels 39 which correspond to the channels 20 and extend in alignment therewith serve to guide the slats in their forward position.

A second pair of opposite channels 41 is positioned inside the spandrel 13 to the rear thereof beyond the roller 38 and is adapted to receive the slats in inverted position, the arrangement being such that in inverted position the shoulders 18 rest on the ends of the leg 16 of the next adjacent slat. As best shown in FIG. 2, the slats telescope in inverted relation as they are fed into the channels 41. 'Ihe slats may thus be moved completely out of position in the Window frame. When it is desired to raise the lowermost slat 15b from the bottom of the channels 41, a lifting member 42 secured to slat 15b is threadedly engaged by a shaft 25a, which comprises a continuation of the shaft 25, but which is oppositely threaded With respect thereto. By further rotation in a reverse direction of the handle 29 it will be seen that the member 42 may be lifted to raise the slats out of storage position and permit them to fall over the roller 38 into the channel 39 and thence drop downwardly into the channel to progressively cover the window frame. The upper end of the shaft 25a is provided with Va Worm 43 which is adapted to drive the gear 37 for rotation of the roller 3Sv in either direction.

Means are provided for locking the slats in any selected position of adjustment and comprises a spring linger 50 which extends outwardly through the side of one of the channels 20. The spring linger is adapted to be bowed outwardly by means of a cam 52 which is mounted on a shaft S3, the shaft extending through the frame and terminating in an operating handle 54. Obviously, rotationY of the cam to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 4

moves one of the slats 15 to a position in abutting relation with the opposite channel frame 20 and so secures the slats against accidental displacement.

From the foregoing itwill now be seen that there isherein provided an improved adjustable slat blind construction, which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As-many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that al1- matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrativeand not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. An adjustable slat blind comprised of a plurality of substantially U-shaped slats having shouldersl formed on opposite sides of the exterior thereof, elongated guide means slidably mounting said slats, flexibly foldable connectingl means between said slats providing for edge to edge abutment of adjacent slats or for spacing apart of said slats longitudinally of said guide means, roller means mounted above and spaced to one side of the top of said guide means over Iwhich said slats and exible connecting means extend, a storage channel for holding said slats in abutting relation in inverted position on the opposite side of said roller means from said guide means, said slats being adapted to nest within each other when in abutting relation in said storage channel yand means -for raising and lowering said slats over said roller means.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said'l'ast-mentioned means comprise an elongated threaded shaft, and a tongue threadedly engaging saidV shaft and engaging the lowermost of said slats when in operative position.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said shaft is provided with an oppositely threaded continuation, and a:

tongue threadedly engaging said continuation and adapted to engage the lowermostl of said slats when in inverted storage position.

4. The structure of claimY 2 wherein said shaft is provided with an oppositely threaded continuation, and a tongue threadedly engaging said continuation and secured to the lowermost of said slats when in inverted storage position, -said roller means being adapted for mounting in a hollow spandrel above said guide means.

References Citedin the file ofl this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS 558,577 Spauldingl Apr. 21, 1896 1,725,750 Brinton Aug. 27, 1929' 1,958,074 Seregi May 8, 1934 2,921,628 Alvarez Jan. 19, 1960'y 

